72-year-old bicyclist dies after collision with SUV on State Highway 35

STODDARD, Wis. – Vernon County Sheriff Roy Torgerson reports a fatal crash occurred
on Wednesday afternoon, July 23, at approximately 1:30 p.m., on State Highway 35
in the Town of Bergen, rural Stoddard.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, David B. Fargo, 72 , of La Crosse, Wis. was riding a bicycle south on the paved shoulder of State Highway 35, south of the City of La Crosse and suddenly veered left into the path of a southbound SUV operated by a 74-year-old Patricia A. Johnson, 74, of rural Genoa. A Sheriff’s investigation shows Johnson made an evasive maneuver but was unable to avoid a direct impact collision with the cyclist.

Responding to the scene with the Sheriff’s Office were the Stoddard-Bergen Volunteer Fire Department, Gundersen Tri-State Ambulance, La Crosse County Sheriff’s Office, and the Wisconsin State Patrol.

After extensive lifesaving measures were exhausted, Fargo was pronounced dead at the scene by a deputy of the Office of Vernon County Coroner Betty Nigh.

Through further investigation to determine why the cyclist made the sudden maneuver into the roadway, it was learned he frequently cycled on Mohawk Valley Road which intersects the opposite side of the highway.

Neither Johnson or her passenger, reported any injuries.

A portion of State Highway 35 was closed in both directions for approximately two hours. The crash remains under investigation by the Sheriff’s Office and Vernon County Coroner’s Office.

Sheriff Torgerson would also like to thank the La Crosse Police Department Chaplaincy for their assistance and support